Convertible handbag



Jan. 5, 1965 E. M. SIMMONS 3,164,187

CONVERTIBLE HANDBAG Filed Oct. 17, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 5, 1965 E. M. SIMMONS CONVERTIBLE HANDBAG 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 17, 1961 Jan. 5, 1965 E. M. SIMMONS 3,164,187

CONVERTIBLE HANDBAG Filed Oct. 17, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet -3 Jan. 5, 1965 E. M. SIMMONS CONVERTIBLE HANDBAG 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 17, 1961 shopping items.

United States Patent ()fitice 3,164,137 CQNVERTIBLE HANDBAG Eleanor M. Simmons, 30 E. 23rd St, New York 16, N.Y. Filed Oct. 17, 1961, Ser. No. 145,663 7 Claims. (Cl. 1503S) The present invention relates to ladies handbags. In accordance with the invention, there is provided a handbag which is readily convertible from use as a purse or pocketbook to use as a carrying bag, for example a shopping bag, beach bag, or the like. When used as a pocketbook, it is flat, attractive and stylish. When used as a carrying bag, it is not only approximately twice as deep in a vertical direction but also opens up so as to be much thicker with square corners and approximately prismatic shape. As a pocketbook, it will hold the usual items such as a compact, billfold, lipstick and handkerchief. As a carrying bag it will hold dry goods, groceries or other It can also be used as a beach bag to hold bathing suits and towels. It can even be used as an overnight bag to carry clothes and toilet accessories. When used as a carrying bag it still accommodates the usual pocketbook items, such as compact, lipstick, handkershief and billfold, which are held in one or more separate pockets where they are readily accessible and are not lost in the groceries or bathing paraphernalia.

The nature and advantages of the handbag, in accord ance with the present invention, will appear more fully from the following description and claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way of example a preferred embodiment of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the handbag in condition to be used as a pocketbook.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the handbag in condition to be used as a carrying bag.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views taken approximately on the lines 3-3 and 44 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the lower portion of the bag taken approximately on the line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

The handbag illustrated by way of example in the drawings has four pockets or compartments, namely a main pocket or bag 1, an outside patch pocket 2, an inside pocket 3 and another pocket 4 which is located inside the bag 1 but opens to the outside.

The main pocket 1 has sidewalls 5 and 6 which are formed of suitable flexible sheet material, for example, leather, artificial leather, plastic or fabric. In the particular shape and style of bag illustrated in the drawings, the sides 5 and 6 are substantially square and are joined with one another along the side edges by side seams 7 and along the bottom by a bottom seam 8 which is shown as continuous with the side seams. The two sides are preferably turned inside out while they are being sewn together so that the seam 7, 8 is inside the bag. The edges are preferably covered with a suitably binding 9. While the bag is still inside out, the two lower corners'11, at the junction of the side edges and the bottom edges of the sidewalls 5 and 6 are folded inwardly as shown in FIG. 2 and are secured to the bottom seam 3 at a selected distance from the original position of the corners by suitable means such as staples or stitching 12. Although the bag formed by the side Walls 5 and 6 was initially rec tangular, for example square, it is made tapered by havaltars? Patented Jan. 5, 1965 ing the corners folded in as described, so that when turned right side out and flat it is narrower at the bottom than at the top by the amount the corner portions have been folded in. This tapered shape contributes to the style and appearance of the bag. Moreover, as will be explained below, folding the corner portions inwardly has important functional advantages.

The upper edge portions of the sidewalls 5 and 6 of pocket 1 are stiffened and reinforced by strips or bands 14 sandwiched between the upper portion of the walls 5, 6 and :an inner layer 15 which is secured at its edges to the side wall by stitching 16. The length of the stitIening strips 14 is approximately equal to the width of the pocket 1 at the bottom after the corners have been turned in as described above. The upper edge is finished by suitable binding 17. Handles 18 are secured to the upper reinforced portion of the side walls 5, 6 a short distance from their upper edges. Preferably the handles 18 pass through the sheet material forming the side walls and are firmly secured to the plastic reinforcing bands 14.

The second pocket 2 is formed of a piece of sheet material 24 secured by stitching 21 along its side and bottom edges to one side 5 of the pocket 1. The upper edge is free and finished by suitable binding 22. The pocket 2 extends downwardly from a point near the top of pocket 1 to a line approximately half way to the bottom of pocket 1. The width of pocket 2 is approximately equal to the width of the bottom portion of pocket 1, which as described above is reduced by having corner portions turned inwardly. The material from which patch pocket is formed is preferably like that used for pocket 1 so that the patch pocket blends into the appearance of the side wall 5.

The inner pocket 3 is in the form of a double walled envelope formed of flexible sheet material 23 which is folded on itself to provide a bottom junction 24 and joined along opposite side edges. The sheet material 23 forming the envelope 3, is preferably transparent plastic so that the contents of the pocket canbe seen through the walls. At its upper edge the pocket 3 is secured as indicated at 25, to the reinforced upper portion of the side wall 5 of pocket 1. The attachment 25 of the pocket 3 is preferably near the lower edge of the reinforcing plastic band 14. Near its top the pocket 3 has an opening extending substantially the full width of the pocket and provided with a suitable closure which is illustrated as a slide fastener 26. The width of the pocket 3 is approximately the same as that of the patch pocket 2. The pocket 3 extends downwardly approximately half way to the bottom of the main pocket 1.

The pocket 4 is likewise in the form of an envelope having walls '28 formed of flexible sheet material, for example transparent plastic. The material forming the walls is folded at 29 to form a bottom of the pocket and the two walls are secured together on their side edges, for example, by suitable stitching or stitching adhesive or welding. At its upper edge 31, the pocket 4 is secured to the reinforced upper portion of the side wall 6 of pocket 1, for example by the stitching 16 which passes through the wall 6 plastic reinforcing band 14 and inner facing material. A slit is formed in the wall 6 of the pocket 1 and opens into the upper portion of the pocket 4 so as to provide access to the pocket 4 from the outside of pocket 1. A slide fastener 32 or other suitable means is provided for closing the opening. The pocket 4 is of approximately the same width and the same depth in a vertical direction as pocket 3.

The mainpocket 1 is foldable about a horizontal line approximately midway between the top and bottom of the pocket, from an extended position as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and to a folded position as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. In its folded position, the lower portion of the pocket 1 overlies the patch pocket 2, the bottom of pocket one approximately coinciding with the upper edge of pocket 2 as shown in PEG. 4. Suitable fastening means shown as snap fasteners 35 are provided for holding the pocket 1 in folded condition. In FIG. 1 one corner of the pocket is shown turned out suiliciently to show one of the snap fasteners 35 which are located at opposite corners. When the pocket 1- is in folded position, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the lower portion of pocltet 1 lies flat against the patch pocket 2 and the bag is of Suitable size and proportion to provide an attractive handbag Pockets l, 2, 3 and 4 are all accessible for use, it being understood that articles placed in pocket l are supported by the fold in the pocket. As pockets 2, 3 and 4 extend downwardly substantially to the fold in pocket 1, they provide maximum capacity and are to some extent supported by the fold. While pockets 1 and 2 are shown open at the top, it will be understood that suitable fastening means can be provided for closing themas is known in the art. For example a flap, of suitable width to pass between the opposite sides of the handles, may be attached .to the exterior of pocket ll above the slide fastener 32 of 7 in FIGS. 2 and 5, it opens up to provide a carrying bag of large capacity. By reason of the corners 11 being turned in and fastened as illustrated in FIG. 2, and by reasoning of the stifiening 1a and pockets 2;, 3 and 4 terminating at a corresponding distance from the'side scams 9, the bag opens up to an approximately prismatic shape with a square bottom and square side portions. Pockets 2, 3 and 4 remain accessible and are useful for smaller articles while larger articles are placed in pocket 1.

It will thus be seen that the bag in accordance with the present invention serves a dual purpose and is readily convertible from a handbag to a carrying bag. As a handbag it is compact and stylish in appearance. As a carrying bag, it has large capacity making it suitable for use as a shopping bag or beach bag, while at the same time retaining the handbag function of carrying such articles as are usually carried in a handbag.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown by Way of example in the drawings, and particularly described, it will be understood that the in- .vention is no way limited tothis particular embodiment. The bag can be made from a Wide variety of materials and the size and shape may be varied according to the intended use and the desired style and appearance. Moreover, While pockets 2, 3 and 4 provide greater capacity, and permit segregating different items in dilierent pockets,

.it will be understood that one or more of these additional pockets may be omitted while still retaining the folding characteristics of pocket 1.- Still other changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art, while ing opposite walls formed of flexible sheet material of substantially rectangular shape joined at the side edges and bottom of said pocket while leaving the top open, handle means attached to upper portion of opposite walls of said pocket, means defining a secondpocket on one side wall of said first pocket and opening near the top of said first pocket, said second pocket extending laterally less than the full width of said first pocket and extend ing downwardly a distance not exceeding half the vertical dimension of said first pocket, said first pocket being foldahle about the bottom of said second pocket to a position in which the bottom of said first pocket approximately coincident with the opening of said second pocket and means for releasably securing the bottom of said first pocket in said folded position whereby said handbag constitut s a purse when said first pocket is folded and a shopping bag when said first pocket is unfolded, the lower corner portions of said first pocket being folded inwardly and permanently secured at the corners to the bottom junction of said first pocket whereby said first pocket lies flat and is tapered with said bottom narrower than the top when in folded position and opens up to an elongated prismatic form with a square bottom when in unfolded position.

2. A convertible handbag according to claim 1, further comprising a third pocket comprising substantially rectangular flexible material disposed inside said first pocket and having an upper portion secured to a wall of said first pocket near its top and extending laterally approximately the width of the second pocket and vertically to approximately the fold of the first pocket whereby the third pocket is supported by the fold of the first pocket when in folded condition and closure means for the opening of said third pocket.

3. A convertible handbag according to claim 3 further comprising a fourth pocket similar to said third pocket but secured to the opposite wall of said first pocket.

4. A convertible handbag according to claim 4 in which one of said third and fourth pockets opens inside said first pocket and the other opens outside said first pocket through an opening provided in the wall of said first pocket opposite that on which said second pocket is provided.

5. A convertible handbag comprising a first pocket of substantially rectangular shape and having opposite walls formed flexible sheet material joined at the side edges and bottom of said pocket While leaving the top open, means stifiening the upper edge portions of said pocket, handle means attached to upper edge portions of said pocket and said stifiening means, a second pocket defined by a further portion of flexible sheet material secured to said one wall along side and bottom edges of said further portion while leaving the top of said second pocket open, said second pocket extending laterally substantially the width of said stilfening means and vertically downwardly from near the top of said first pocket not more than half way to the bottom, said first pocket being foldable about the bottom of said second pocket to a position in which the bottom of said first pocket approximately coincides with the top of said second pocket and means for releasably securing said first pocket in said folded position whereby said handbag constitutes a purse of greater width than depth when said first pocket is folded and a carrying bag of greater'depth than width when said first pocket is unfolded, the lower corner portions of said first pocket being folded inwardly and permanently secured at the corners to the bottom junction of said first pocket whereby said first pocket lies fiat and is tapered with said bottom narrower than the top when in folded position and opens up to an elongated prismatic form with a square bottom when in unfolded position.

6. A convertible handbag comprising two substantially V square wall portions of flexible sheet material joined with one another along two sides and a bottom to form a pocket open at the top, handle means attached to said wall portions near the top of said pocket being foldable about a horizontal line near its center to a position in which the bottom junction is near the top of said pocket, means for securing said pocket in folded position, the lower corners of said pocket being turned inwardly and attached to the bottom junction between said wall portions at points in and secured to the bottom junction of said first pocket.

spaced inwardly from said corners, whereby said pocket References Cited in the file of this atent lles fiat and 1s tapered with sand bottom narrower than D the top when in folded position and opens up to a pris- UNITED STATES PATENTS matic shape with a square bottom and substantially verti- 5 222,425 Smith Dec. 9, 1879 cal side walls when in unfolded position. 920,852 Flanagan May 4, 1909 7. A convertible handbag according to claim 5, in 1,666,704 Hunter Apr. 17, 1928 which the lateral extent of said stiffening means and sec- 2,412,007 Plapler Dec. 3, 1946 0nd pocket is approximately equal to the Width of said 2,450,040 Gibson Sept. 28, 1948 first pocket at the bottom thereof with the corners folded 10 3,019,869 Engelhardt Feb. 6, 1962 

1. A CONVERTIBLE HANDBAG COMPRISING A FIRST POCKET HAVING OPPOSITE WALLS FORMED OF FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL OF SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR SHAPE JOINED AT THE SIDE EDGES AND BOTTOM OF SAID POCKET WHILE LEAVING THE TOP OPEN, HANDLE MEANS ATTACHED TO UPPER PORTION OF OPPOSITE WALLS OF SAID POCKET, MEANS DEFINING A SECOND POCKET ON ONE SIDE WALL OF SAID FIRST POCKET AND OPENING NEAR THE TOP OF SAID FIRST POCKET, SAID SECOND POCKET EXTENDING LATERALLY LESS THAN THE FULL WIDTH OF SAID FIRST POCKET AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY A DISTANCE NOT EXCEEDING HALF THE VERTICAL DIMENSION OF SAID FIRST POCKET, SAID FIRST POCKET BEING FOLDABLE ABOUT THE BOTTOM OF SAID FIRST POCKET TO A POSITION IN WHICH THE BOTTOM OF SAID FIRST POCKET APPROXIMATELY COINCIDENT WITH THE OPENING OF SAID SECOND POCKET AND MEANS FOR RELEASABLY SECURING THE BOTTOM OF SAID FIRST POCKET IN SAID FOLDED POSITION WHEREBY SAID HANDBAG CONSTITUTES A PURSE WHEN SAID FIRST POCKET IS FOLDED AND A SHOPPING BAG WHEN SAID FIRST POCKET IS UNFOLDED, THE LOWER CORNER PORTIONS OF SAID FIRST POCKET BEING FOLDED INWARDLY AND PERMANENTLY SECURED AT THE CORNERS TO THE BOTTOM JUNCTION OF SAID FIRST POCKET WHERBY SAID FIRST POCKET LIES FLAT AND IS TAPERED WITH SAID BOTTOM NARROWER THAN THE TOP WHEN IN FOLDED POSITION AND OPENS UP TO AN ELONGATED PRISMATIC FORM WITH A SQUARE BOTTOM WHEN IN UNFOLDED POSITION. 